Tim McCarthy/Asbury Park Press/POOLJahmell Crockam appears in court for the second time this week.

TOMS RIVER — Police are crediting tips from the public for helping them charge the man suspected of killing Lakewood police Officer Christopher Matlosz in a second homicide.

Jahmell Crockam, 19, and a co-defendant, Darius Johnson, 20, of Lakewood, appeared in court this afternoon to face murder charges in the October 2010 shooting death of Justin Williams, of Jackson Township.

Last week, Matlosz had stopped to question Crockam, a pedestrian, on August Drive off Joe Parker Road. After a brief exchange, Crockam took a step back, drew a handgun and shot Matlosz once. Crockam then stepped forward and fired two more shots.

Crockam had been wanted for possession of an illegal rifle and hollow-point bullets from a case in December. It is not known whether Matlosz knew of Crockam’s record.

Crockam was arrested Sunday morning in a Camden apartment after a sweeping, 38-hour dragnet across several states.